Ghana Marks 78th Un Peacekeepers Day With Call To Invest In Peace

Ghana joined the global community on Thursday to commemorate the 78th International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, with government and UN officials urging sustained investment in peace amid rising global conflicts.

This year’s theme, _“Investing In Peace”_, framed a solemn flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremony in Accra to honor peacekeepers who have served and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in UN missions worldwide.

Deputy Foreign Minister Urges Deliberate Commitment

Deputy Mi³nister for Foreign Affairs Hon. James Gyakye Quayson told the gathering that peace must be built, not assumed.

“Peace is not accidental. Peace is built and established through investment, institutional strengthening, professionalism, and vigilance,” he said, quoting President John Dramani Mahama.

Quayson said peace requires deliberate commitment, strategic investment, and collective resolve. He defined investing in peace as funding strong institutions, preventive diplomacy, conflict resolution mechanisms, effective peacekeeping operations, and the resilience of communities affected by conflict.

He noted that UN peacekeeping has become more indispensable as the world confronts protracted conflicts, terrorism, violent extremism, climate-related security threats, and humanitarian crises.

Ghana, he said, remains firmly committed to the UN Charter and continues to deploy gallant men and women to missions in Lebanon, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other conflict zones.

“Their professionalism, discipline, and sacrifice continue to bring honor to our nation and reinforce Ghana’s long-standing reputation as a champion of international peace and security,” Quayson stated.

He highlighted the role of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center in Accra as a leading institution building capacity for peace support operations across Africa and beyond.

Quayson called on the international community to ensure peacekeeping missions receive clear mandates, sufficient resources, and political backing. He also urged stronger cooperation between the UN and regional bodies, especially the African Union, to address contemporary threats.

“Investing in peace is ultimately an investment in humanity’s shared future. The cost of conflict far outweighs the cost of prevention,” he said.

Un Resident Coordinator: Invest In Peace, Not War

UN Resident Coordinator HE Zia Choudhury also addressed the ceremony, thanking the Government of Ghana, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, security services, the UN family and all partners for organizing the event.

“Together we recognize the dedication, the service, and the sacrifice of Ghanaian and all peacekeepers across the world,” Choudhury said.

He said more than 50,000 civilian, military and police peacekeepers are currently deployed under the UN flag in some of the world’s most complex and dangerous environments. More than 4,500 peacekeepers have died in service since 1948, including 59 last year.

Choudhury raised alarm over a worrying increase in attacks on peacekeepers.

“In recent years, we have witnessed a worrying increase in incidents where peacekeepers have come under direct fire, have faced intimidation, or have been obstructed in carrying out their mandated duties… Such actions put lives at risk and undermine the international community’s efforts to maintain peace and protect civilians. This is unacceptable,” he said.

Among the 59 fallen in 2025 was Warrant Officer Class One George Amin of the Ghana Armed Forces, who died while serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon in February 2025.

“Warrant Officer Class One George Amin… we remember him and may he rest in peace,” Choudhury said.

The 59 fallen from 2025, together with nine others from the previous year, will receive the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal at a ceremony in New York on June 5, presided over by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Choudhury said this year’s theme highlights the importance of UN peacekeeping amid budget cuts and a shrinking operational footprint. He noted that UN peacekeeping missions are implementing significant budget reductions and urged Member States to pay assessed contributions in full and on time.

He compared the annual peacekeeping budget of $6 billion to the cost of war, which can reach between half a billion and a billion dollars a day.

“Underinvestment has real consequences… Now is the time to invest in peace, not in war,” he said.

Ghana’s Leading Role In Peacekeeping

Choudhury praised Ghana’s decades-long commitment, noting the country deploys more than 1,900 military and police personnel, including 337 women, across eight UN operations.

“Ghana has played a catalytic role in peacekeeping operations… Today, Ghana is among the leading contributors of uniformed personnel to UN peacekeeping,” he said.

He commended Ghana for promoting women in peacekeeping. With 18 percent of its peacekeeping forces being women, Ghana has about twice the global average. The country is also a co-founder of the Elsie Initiative, launched with Canada in 2017 to remove barriers to women’s participation in peace operations.

Choudhury singled out Mr. Samuel Bessey, a retired UN Department of Safety and Security officer and former Ghanaian peacekeeper, for his distinguished service. He also recognized other former Ghanaian peacekeepers now serving with the UN in Ghana.

He concluded by sharing Secretary-General António Guterres’ message:

“Peacekeeping is a proven and cost-effective way to restore stability and hope, but it requires steady political backing and reliable financial support… An investment in peacekeeping is an investment in a safer future. Let us all support the people who help make peace possible.”

Quayson ended Ghana’s tribute with gratitude to all UN peacekeepers.

“On behalf of the government and the people of Ghana, I express profound gratitude to all United Nations peacekeepers for their selfless service and unwavering commitment to humanity. May the souls of the fallen continue to rest in perfect peace.”

May 29 is observed worldwide each year as the International Day of UN Peacekeepers to honor the service and sacrifice of military, police and civilian personnel in UN operations.